ANDI Accessibility Testing Tool Tutorial

Web accessibility testing tools help developers and testers identify and fix barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing online content. One such powerful yet simple tool is ANDI (Accessible Name & Description Inspector).Developed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), ANDI Accessibility testing Tool is a free and lightweight browser extension designed to help web developers improve accessibility. It provides real-time insights into common accessibility issues, assisting developers to ensure compliance with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and Section 508 standards.Suppose you are new to accessibility testing or looking for an efficient way to improve your website’s compliance. In that case, this guide will walk you through everything from ANDI’s history and installation to performing detailed accessibility checks.

History of ANDI and Its Inventor

ANDI was developed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), a U.S. government agency responsible for social security programs. Recognizing the importance of digital accessibility, SSA created ANDI to help developers and testers easily identify and correct accessibility issues without requiring advanced expertise. Unlike many commercial accessibility tools, ANDI was designed to be free, easy to use, and lightweight. Since its launch, it has become a widely adopted tool among government agencies, developers, and accessibility testers who need a quick and reliable way to check for compliance with WCAG and Section 508 guidelines.

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Key Features of ANDI Accessibility Testing Tool:

• Identifies missing or incorrect ARIA attributes
• Analyzes focusable elements for screen reader compatibility
• Checks HTML structure and semantic elements
• Detects issues with links, buttons, and form fields
• Highlights contrast issues for better readability
• Ensures compliance with WCAG and Section 508

By using ANDI, developers and testers can quickly pinpoint accessibility issues and make necessary improvements without modifying the original webpage.

Compatible Browsers for ANDI Accessibility Testing Tool

ANDI is designed to work without installation as a simple bookmarklet. It is compatible with the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
• Mozilla Firefox
• Internet Explorer (limited support)

Note: Safari does not natively support JavaScript bookmarklets, so manual setup is required.

How to Install ANDI Accessibility Testing Tool

ANDI is a browser-based accessibility testing tool that runs as a bookmarklet—meaning it does not require a separate software installation. Instead, it is activated by adding a JavaScript snippet to your browser’s bookmarks bar.

Installation Instructions for Different Browsers

For Google Chrome & Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based browsers):

1.Enable the Bookmarks Bar

• Press Ctrl + Shift + B to make the bookmarks bar visible.

2. Drag and drop the ANDI tool

3. Activate ANDI

• Whenever you need to test a webpage, click on the ANDI bookmarklet from your bookmarks bar.

For Mozilla Firefox:

1. Enable the Bookmarks Toolbar

• Press Alt + V, go to Toolbars and enable Bookmarks Toolbar.

2. Add ANDI as a Bookmark

• Right-click on this ANDI Tool Link and select “Bookmark This Link.”
• Name the bookmark ANDI and ensure it is saved in the Bookmarks Toolbar.

3. Activate ANDI

• Click the ANDI bookmark whenever you want to run the accessibility test.

For Internet Explorer:

1. Enable the Favorites Bar

• Press Alt + V, go to Toolbars, and enable Favorites Bar.

2. Add ANDI as a Favorite

• Right-click on this ANDI Tool Link and select “Add to Favorites Bar.”

3. Activate ANDI

• Click the ANDI bookmark whenever you need to analyze a webpage.

For Safari (Manual Setup Required):

• Safari does not fully support JavaScript bookmarklets in the same way as other browsers.
• You may need to manually add and run the ANDI script from the browser’s developer console.
• Manual Steps:

1. Open the Developer Console in Safari

• Press Cmd + Option + I (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows) to open the Developer Tools in Safari.
• Alternatively, you can right-click anywhere on the webpage and select Inspect Element to open the Developer Tools.

2. Go to the “Console” Tab

• In the Developer Tools window, click on the Console tab where you can execute JavaScript.

3. Add the ANDI Script Manually

• First, go to the ANDI website or locate the script source. You need to copy the JavaScript code that runs the ANDI tool.
• Here’s a basic script you can use to run ANDI on a webpage:

(function() {
    var script = document.createElement('script');
    script.src = 'https://www.andiapp.com/andi.js';
    script.onload = function() {
        ANDI.launch(); // Launch the ANDI tool once the script is loaded
    };
    document.head.appendChild(script);
})();

4. Paste and Execute the Script

• Copy the code above and paste it into the Console tab in Developer Tools.
• Press Enter to run the script.

5. Access the ANDI Tool

• After executing the script, the ANDI tool should automatically load on the page, and you can start inspecting accessibility issues.
• If the script is successfully loaded, you should see the ANDI interface on the page.

How to Use ANDI Accessibility Testing Tool

Once installed, ANDI can quickly scan a webpage and provide insights on accessibility issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use it:

Step 1: Activate ANDI on a Webpage

1. Open the webpage you want to test.

2. Click on the ANDI bookmarklet from your browser’s bookmarks bar.

3. ANDI will scan the page and overlay accessibility information, highlighting potential issues.

Step 2: Analyze Accessibility Elements

Use the preview buttons “<" (backward element) or ">” (Forward element) to analyze the accessibility elements.

ANDI categorizes issues into different sections:

Headings & Structure

• Ensures proper heading hierarchy (h1 → h6) to help screen readers.
• Example Issue: Missing h1 on a webpage.
• Fix: Add h1 Main Heading /h1 to define the page structure properly.

Links & Buttons

• Check if links and buttons have clear, accessible labels.
• Example Issue: An empty without a label.
• Fix: Add a Link or descriptive text:

<a href="www.apple.com">Buy</a>

Images & Alternative Text

• Ensures that all images have meaningful alt text for screen readers.
• Example Issue:img src=”iphone16promax.png” – (No alt attribute is provided.)
• Fix: Add an alt attribute: img src=”iphone16promax.png” alt=”iPhone 16 Pro Max, all four finishes, Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium and Desert Titanium.

Color Contrast & Readability

• Ensures text has a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1 for readability.
• Example Issue: Light grey text on a white background.
• Fix: Adjust the text color or background to improve contrast.

Keyboard Navigation & Focus Order

• Ensures interactive elements are accessible using the Tab key.
• Example Issue: A ‘div’ styled as a button that is not keyboard-accessible.
• Fix: Use a ‘button’ element or add tabindex=”0″ to make it focusable.

Step 3: Review ANDI’s Recommendations

• Click on highlighted elements for detailed accessibility reports.
• Modify your HTML, CSS, or ARIA attributes based on ANDI’s suggestions.
• Re-run ANDI to verify fixes and improvements.

Example Scenarios & How ANDI Helps

Why Use ANDI for Accessibility Testing?

ANDI is a preferred tool for accessibility testing due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Here are some reasons why developers and testers rely on it:

• Free & Easy to Use – No complex setup or licensing required.
• Works in the Browser – No separate software installation needed; runs directly in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
• Detailed Insights – Provides in-depth accessibility reports and suggestions.
• Non-Disruptive Testing – Runs without altering the webpage’s original code.
• Lightweight & Fast – Does not slow down the webpage or require heavy system resources.

Unlike many automated tools that simply provide a compliance score, ANDI visually highlights accessibility issues and offers specific recommendations, making it an essential tool for developers.

Conclusion

ANDI is a free, easy-to-use tool for accessibility testing. It provides real-time feedback on headings, forms, images, keyboard navigation, and color contrast, helping developers fix issues directly on the webpage. Unlike other tools that generate reports, ANDI offers interactive insights for quick improvements. Integrating ANDI into your workflow ensures your website is accessible, WCAG and Section 508 compliant, and user-friendly. It also boosts SEO and usability. For professional testing, Codoid offers expert support. Start using ANDI today to build a more inclusive web!

Frequently Asked Questions